In grand finals there is always a handful of players a coach relies on to provide a spark and lead the side to victory – no matter the team, no matter the sport, it’s an inevitability.
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The Orange Tigers are no different.
Although Tigers coach Dale Hunter made it very clear the biggest reason for his side’s success is the fact every single player makes valuable contributions, there’s also a number of proven match-winners in the side.
“Everyone has been playing very well, playing their roles,” Hunter said.
“But the likes of Josh Bubnich and Simon Kay, they’re the only two left that played in all three of our winning grand finals a few years ago.
“They bring that winning effort every game and obviously have all that experience.
“We’d expect Mitch McKenna will stand up too, he’s an experienced head.”
McKenna is one of the few Tigers to have cracked 100 first grade appearance, and has won multiple titles with the club – as has Bubnich, widely regarded as the best player in the league.
Kay’s passion for the Tigers is undeniable, and he also reached his 100th game this season.
Hunter highlighted a couple of boom recruits as potential match-winners too, although how they handle the pressure-cooker atmosphere is yet to be determined.
The Tigers coach is confident they’ll flourish though.
“A couple of the Parkes boys we recruited, Brent Tucker and Jake Adams, they’re form has been outstanding all year as well and we’re hoping they’ll stand up and be counted again this weekend as well,” Hunter said.
There’s no coincidence all of those players will run through the Tigers’ middle on Saturday, winning the clearances a heavy focus for the Orange side.
“We just want to do what we’ve done the last six or seven weeks, but obviously improve marginally on what we’ve been doing as well,” Hunter said.
“Winning those clearances and getting first use of the ball is a big factor in the way we play, and stopping Bushrangers.”
The Tigers face the Bathurst Bushrangers Outlaws from 2.30pm at Country Club Oval.